Title: Trump Nominates Mauricio Claver-Carone as Americas’ Latam Envoy
Miami, FL – Donald Trump’s Administration has nominated Mauricio Claver-Carone as the next U.S. State Department’s Envoy to Latin America. Claver-Carone, a 49-year-old Cuban-American, previously served as the President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
Claver-Carone, chosen for his strong economic background and vast regional knowledge, is expected to promote American interests in the region, while recognizing the importance of high-performing economies. In a recent speech at the Center for Policy Analysis (CAPP), he praised countries like the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Panama, Guyana, Uruguay, and Paraguay, calling them "oases" that should be encouraged and replicated across the region.
"Oases are what we need. We need dozens of oases in the region," Claver-Carone said during his speech. "The Dominican Republic is one of those oases," along with Costa Rica, Panama, Guyana, Uruguay, Paraguay, and other nations with the potential to become such oases.
Claver-Carone criticized the prevalent economic integration regime, comparing it to a "unicorn" in terms of its political viability and economic effectiveness. He argued that regional intra-trade agreements cost Latin America approximately $20 billion annually, and thus, nations should instead focus on improving their investment climates, streamlining regulations, and agilizing licenses to attract foreign investment and become ‘oases’.
"Si hubiesen muchos ‘oasis’ en la región, eso lo prefiero a una región integrada," Claver-Carone said during the CAPP panel.
Beyond economic policy, Claver-Carone defended a ‘carrot and stick’ approach to U.S.-Latin American relations. Speaking at a CAPP event, he emphasized the importance of clearly defining ‘good’ and ‘bad’ actors in the region. Claver-Carone argued that U.S. sanctions should be indiscriminately applied to authoritarian leaders like Nicolás Maduro (Venezuela), Miguel Díaz-Canel (Cuba), and Daniel Ortega (Nicaragua), while allies like Nayib Bukele (El Salvador) and Luis Abinader (Dominican Republic) should be engaged and supported.
"That’s the way to have a clear diplomatic policy in Latin America," Claver-Carone said, promoting a strategy that combines strong support for allies with firm sanctions against adversaries.
Claver-Carone’s nomination and views are likely to spark debate and scrutiny among Latin American leaders and observers. As he takes on the role of U.S. Envoy to Latin America, the international community will await the development of his policies and their impact on the region’s economic and political landscape.
